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Crowley Expands Workforce Development Support in Puerto Rico Through Junior Achievement Americas Partnership

Crowley employee speaks with three students during a workforce development and career exploration visit inside an office facility.

Crowley and Junior Achievement Americas (JAA) are expanding career opportunities for students in Puerto Rico, helping connect young people with careers in maritime transportation, logistics and supply chain management vital to the island’s economy. 

The collaboration pairs Crowley’s industry expertise with JAA’s readiness programs, helping students explore career paths, develop workplace skills and understand how trade and global supply chains support communities and economic growth.

As part of this initiative, Crowley and Junior Achievement Americas have also established a partnership with the Puerto Rico Department of Education to implement JAA’s workforce-readiness programs in public high schools that offer career and technical education programs. The curriculum will be introduced in schools on the island and is expected to reach more than 350 students ages 15 to 19, providing students the tools and experiences to strengthen their workplace skills, explore career opportunities and prepare for a successful transition into the workforce. Through activities focused on self-awareness, networking, interview preparation and industry engagement, including mentoring and workplace experiences, students will gain exposure to maritime and transportation careers while exploring opportunities aligned with Puerto Rico’s labor market. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to learning experiences that connect education with meaningful career pathways and the workforce needs of Puerto Rico. 

Maritime transportation serves as a lifeline for Puerto Rico’s commerce and daily life. The Puerto Rico Ports Authority estimates that the island receives approximately 80% of its imports through its ports, underscoring the importance of maritime transportation, logistics and supply chain careers to the island’s economy and resilience. 

“This partnership is about connecting students with real possibilities while investing in Puerto Rico’s future. By pairing Junior Achievement America’s proven career-readiness curriculum with Crowley’s maritime, transportation and logistics expertise, we can help students see a path to rewarding careers that contribute to the island’s growth and prosperity. When young people can envision successful futures in Puerto Rico, they are more likely to build their lives and careers here, strengthening local communities, supporting economic development and helping ensure the long-term vitality of the region we have proudly served for generations,” said Crowley Vice President of HR and Talent Strategy Francheska Bensan. 

Students and visitors tour a Crowley cargo vessel, gaining firsthand exposure to maritime and logistics operations.

“At Junior Achievement Americas, we believe that preparing young people for the future means providing them with the tools, experiences and opportunities they need to build their own paths. In Puerto Rico, we work with our partners to connect students with the world of work, helping them develop skills and explore career opportunities,” said Noël Zemborain, president of Junior Achievement Americas. “This partnership with Crowley and the Puerto Rico Department of Education allows us to expand that work and prepare more young people to contribute to the future of their communities and Puerto Rico.” 

“This agreement represents a unique opportunity for our students to broaden their education and gain firsthand exposure to the professional opportunities available in sectors that are so important to Puerto Rico, such as maritime transportation, logistics and supply chain management. Education becomes even more valuable when we are able to combine the knowledge acquired in the classroom with real-world workplace experiences,” said Secretary of Education of Puerto Rico Eliezer Ramos Parés. “We thank Crowley and Junior Achievement Americas for this partnership, which will allow our students to develop skills, receive mentorship, explore career pathways, and better prepare for their professional future. This is precisely the kind of collaboration that we want to continue advancing at the Puerto Rico Department of Education.” 

In addition to providing a $40,000 sponsorship to support curriculum implementation, Crowley employees will participate in career panels, port tours and job-shadowing activities. These experiences are expected to engage approximately 50 to 100 students annually and provide firsthand insight into careers that support Puerto Rico’s supply chain and transportation networks. 

Since 2022, Crowley has partnered with Junior Achievement to support career readiness and financial literacy programs in the United States mainland and Central America. To date, the partnership has delivered 418 experiential learning experiences and 174 classroom programs, drawn more than 100 industry volunteers, and reached approximately 9,000 students across nearly 60,000 instructional hours. In recognition of this impact, Crowley was named Junior Achievement of Northeast Florida’s Company of the Year in 2025. 

Crowley has provided ocean transportation, logistics and energy solutions that help connect Puerto Rico’s businesses and residents to essential goods and supplies for more than 70 years from multiple U.S. ports and beyond.